Orissa Review * April - 2007

Kharavela : The Great Philanthropic Emperor

Jayanti Rath

Jainism is one of the most ancient religions, which The coronation of Kaharavela seems to have been emerged as a result of pure non-violent and performed with great pomp and grandeur amidst humanitarian approach towards all living beings. high hopes and aspirations, and the young king It grew up with a profound progressive attitude appeared to have cherished the desire to attain and judicious understanding of special the idealism enumerated in ancient scriptures. That requirements and philosophically indispensable he achieved astounding success as a ruler is necessities of the time. The Jaina thinkers had attested to by his biographical account recorded discussed at length long ago as to how one can in the Hathigumpha inscription and by the record protect one's environment and save himself, of his chief queen engraved in the upper storey of society, nation and all creatures form natural the Manchapuri Cave (Udayagiri hill) proudly calamities through non-violence and non- declaring him as Charkravarti Monarch.1 possession and mutual co-operation. Arya Mahameghabahana Cheti-Raja-Vamsa- In the first regnal year, he devoted his Vardhana Maharaja Sri Kharavela, the mighty attention to strengthen the defence of the capital emperor of Kalinga was out and out a Jaina in Kaliga Nagari, the fortification of which had been the true sense of this philosophy. damaged by cyclonic storm (Batyahata) The reign of Kharavela is a significant He repaired "gopur" "prakara" landmark in the history of Orissa. The caves of "Nivesana" (Gateways, ramparts and the palace) Udayagiri and Khandagiri hills and the and made the fort strong and invulnerable. To Hathigumpha inscriptions provide eloquent beautify the city, he constructed embankments and testimony to Kharavela's connectedness with flight of steps in many cool water tanks and Jainism. Among the followers of Mahavira, developed a number of (Uddyanas) gardens and Kharavela stands out as the tallest name. parks. The defence work continued upto his fifth regnal year when the aqueduct, excavated by Considering the chronology of Post- Mahapadmananda three hundred years before, Mauryan times and ancient glory of Jainism, his is was extended upto the capital city and a perennial the most important and the only inscription yet supply of water was provided to the moat that discovered link in the country. Its importance is surrounded the fortification. For all these works, unquestionable. The invocation formula on the he spent about thirty-five lakh coins. He distributed Hatigumpha inscription Namo Arihantanam 60,000 Karshapanas among his subjects. Namo Sarva-Sidhamam clearly testifies that Jainism was the religious faith, the king The tenth line of the Hathigumpha Kharavela, followed. inscription refers to the building activities of

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Kharavela i.e. (Caves for the Jaina Monks). The discipline and practices. Every basic reality of the 12th regnal year record (line-12) of this inscription universe is integral. Jainism reconciled the parts mentions that when king of Magadha had invaded of reality with the whole by means of its relativistic Kaliga and conquered the same, he carried with approach.4 The "Aryanga", the oldest Jaina text him the image of Kaliga Jina. King Kharavela says therefore, "One who knows one, comes to made on imperial expedition to Magadha, know all, one who has known all, knows one." defeated the Magadhan army and to Kundakunda, a great thinker of about 1st century commemorate this unique event he brought back A.D. and other Jaina philosophers followed the that image in a triumphant procession. Then he same view- "Je ege Janai te savve Janai, Je savve professed Jainism in common with his queens, Janai te ege Janai." 5 Kumaras and officials. Thus, it is clear that the Kharavela recognized self and tried his best to honour of the royal family was interlinked with know all living and non- living beings around him. the image of Kalinga Jina. Similarly the 13th year's He had an enriched vision of ecology. Son of a record of Kharavela's reign (line 14 of the king, he could prove himself to be the son of the inscription) says that he devoted himself entirely soil too. He gave paramount importance to the to religious practice on Kumari hill. Kharavela welfare of his subjects as well as to the nature. offered maintenance and white garments to the "Aspire for self, the same which you aspire for monks. He excavated 117 caves to serve as 2 others and which you do not aspire for self do resting places of the Arhatas or Jaina saints. not aspire for others." This is the fundamental From line 14 to the end of the inscription it principle of Jainism. That Kharavela adhered to is revealed that illustrious Sramanas, Yatis and this basic principle has been artistically reflected Jaina Saints had assembled at Kumari hill from in rock cut architecture of the twin hills, different parts of India for whom Kharavela, at Khandagiri and Udayagiri. It would not be an the insistence of his queen Sindhula of exaggeration to ascribe him as a Rajarshi or the Simhapatha, constructed a magnificent abode saint monarch of Orissa. close to the dwellings of the Arhatas at a cost of References : 105,000 coins. Kharavela has been eulogized as 1. Epigraphic Indica: XIII P.154. a Jaina who had given the religion a proper place 2. Dr. Barua B.M.: Old Brahmi Inscriptions in the in his daily life. Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves- Calcutta. 1929, The life of Kharavela was a symbol of P-26. sanctity. No doubt, he was a great warrior. He 3. Sahu, Dr. N.K.- Kharavela, Orissa State Museum, could achieve a series of brilliant victories Bhubaneswar, 1984. 4. Prof. Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar- "Ecology and extending his way from the north western part of spirituality in Jaina Tradition, from the Book 3 India to the farthest extent in the south. No Indian Jainism, Art, Architecture, Literature and monarch in history is known to have accomplished philosophy, Edited by Dr. Haripriya Rangarajan, such astonishingly successful conquests embracing Dr. S. Kamalakar, Dr. A.K.V.S. Reddy, Sharada such vast expanse of India. But all these conquests Publishing House, Delhi- 1100035, 2001 Page-26. were ephemeral. What gives him undying fame in 5. Pavayanasaro Satha- 47, CF Niyanasara 165. history is his benevolent deeds. Spirituality is essentially individual and Jayanti Rath is Curator-in-charge, Numismatics, Orissa individuality creates collectivity on the basis of State Museum, Bhubaneswar.

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